Inclosed switch



H. W. NEAL INCLOSED SWITCH sept. 3, 1929.

' Filed June 25.1927

a a a a .N .ml

` WITNESSES;

ATTORNEY 30 ration.

Patented Sept. 3, 1929. l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HALDIMAND W. NEAL, OFTMANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, AA CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

INcLosEn SWITCH.

Application nieu :une 25, 1927. serial no. 201,322.

My invention relates t incloged Switches nalled in the Side Walls 4 and 5 Of the hOS- and particularly to switches for controlling ing, and which is provided with an integral Smau motor and lighting Circui operating handle 24 which extends exterior'- An Object of my invention is t0 provide 1y of thE hOuSIng. Tha Switch is moved t0 f an inclosed switch of simple 'construction the 013611 POSOH A, ndiCted ill dotted o0 wherein the housing is protectedA from the hues, by means of the operating handle, and arc incident to the separation of the switch HS ShOWIl in Figs. 1 and 2 the switch is in contacts, and wherein the arc is prevented the ClOSed position. from grounding through the switch housing, In order to reduce the over-all dimensions i0 Another Object of my invention is to proof switches of this charactergthe side walls e5 vide an inclosed switch having the above 0f the hOllSIlg are, 0f necessity, disposed noted characteristics, wherein a pressed Ielutlvely Close to the Contact `jaw of the metal barrier is mounted upon an insulating SWltCh and it has been found that under Operating arm 0f the Switcha and wherein certain abnormal current conditions, the arc the barrier may be mounted upon a switch drawn between the switch jaw 17 and the 70 of standard construction without necessitat- SW'ltCh blade 16 jumps across the space being material changes in the switch design. tween the SWtCh jaw and the side wall 4 of These and other Objects that will be made the housing and causes the arc to be. groundapparent throughout the further description ed lthIOuglfh the Switch housing which is are obtained by means of a switch apparatus uSully grounded. When the arc grounds 75 hereinafter described and illustrated in the thrOllgh the SWitCh housin it endures until accompanying drawings,-wherein; the circuit is interrupted y-the fuse, with Figure 1 is a plan view o the switch apthe result lthat the contact jaw is destroyed 'paratus with a portion of the cover cut by the excessive heat of the arc. away In order to obviate this conditon, I pro- 80 Fig. 2V is a ylongitudinal section through vide a stamped metal barrier 25 having an the Switch housing taken 0n the 1in@ H H extension 26 which constitutes a bracket of Figure 1, and showing the switch apwhich is securely riveted to the insulating paratus embodying my invention in side ele- Operating arm 21 by means of rivets 27.

The free end of the barrier is offset and 85 Referring to the drawings, the inclosed SPCed-10m the Switch jaw 17 and when Switch comprises 3, metal housing 3 having the SVYltCh iS ln the ClOSed POSIOII, OCCUPBS Sidn Walls 4 and 5 and end Walls 6 and 7 a position between the contact jaw 17 and The housing is provided with a cover 8 that the Slde wall 14 of the housing. In the is hinged to the housing by means of hinge event thlt all am iS drawn When the Switch 90 rivets 9. is being opened, the barrier prevents the An insulating switch block 11 is secured {110 eXteudlIlg t0 the side wall of the housl to the bottom wall 12 of the housing and is lng and has a cooling influence thereon. It, provided with a fuse receptacle 13 for rehas been found that the barrier prevents ceivng a standard screw plug fuse, (not grounding 0f the are under all Operating 95 shown). A knife switch 14 is also mounted COndtOIlS t0 Which the switch iS normally u on the insulating base and comprises a subjected. hinge jaw 15 in which a knife switch blade As shown, the insulating base, is not di- 16 is pivoted, and which engages a contact rectly attached to the bottom wall of the jaw 17. The fuse receptacle 13 is provided housing butis mounted upon a metal plate 10o with a terminal 18, and a terminal 19 is con- 27 of U-shap. und having SdeWngS 28 and nected to the contact jaw 17, the feed con- 29, the plate 27 being detachably secured to ductors being connected to the terminals in the bottom wall v12 by means of screws 31. such manner that current passes tlrough the It will berunderstood that the wings 28 and fuse receptacle, fuse plug and the switch 29 are considered as a part of the side wall 105 blade. of the housing, the wings being in conduc- The switch blade 16 is provided with an tive engagement therewith and consequently insulating operating arm 21 that is riveted grOunded through the Side Wall. thereto and is provided with a notch 22 t'or It is apparent from the fgregoing that the receiving an operating bail 23 that is jourbarrier may be attached to an inclosed 110 i switch of standard construction with very small additional cost.

While I have illustrated but one embodiment of m invention it will be apparent I to those s illed in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims. v

I claim as my invention: 1. Switch mechanism comprising a housing, an insulating` base therein, a contact member mounted on the-base, a movableswitch member for engaging the con-vy tact member, and a barrier carried by the switch member and disposed between the contact member and a wall of the housing,

the said barrier being insulated from the said switch member. 2. Switch mechanism comprising a housa between the ing, an insulating base therein, a contact member mounted ony the base, a movable y to the said operating member and disposed said contact member and a wall of the said housing.

3. Switch mechanism comprising a housing, an insulating base therein, a contact jaw mounted on the base, 'a movable switch blade for engaging the contact member, an insulating operating member secured to the switch blade and a metal barrier secured to the said operating member and disposed between the said Contact member and a wall of the said housing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th day of May,

HALDIMAND W. NEAL. 

